Display-case.



W. HOFFMANN.

DlsPLAY CASE. APPLICATION FILED MN. 2. 191?.

1,251,031k Patented Den. 25,1917.

/NVENTOH ma www WILLIBALD HOFFMANN, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

DISPLAY-CASE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Application led January 2, 1917. Serial No. 140,019.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIBALD HOFFMANN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Display-Cases,

of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

The invention relates to display cases.

The invention is more particularly adapted as a display case for fruit, though it may be used for flowers and the like.

The invention is designed to provide a display case in which the articles to be displayed are placed in glass dishes or plates through which light shines from below, the light only passing through the dishes or plates.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of the device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear side view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. f1 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

The display case comprises a rectangular case 7 having a hinged glass top protective cover 8, an opaque shelf 9 mounted on strips 10 within the case near its top and provided with a plurality of openings 11 for receiving glass dishes 12 which set into said openings, and a source of light within the case below the shelf 9 and dishes 12.

Any suitable source of light within the case may be used but I prefer the construction herein shown consisting of a plurality of electric lights 13, each light being arranged preferably centrally of the opening 11 in the shelf above it so that its rays Will shine through the glass dish in said opening to the best advantage, the lights all being connected in circuit with the line wires 14 and adapted to be controlled through the usual push button switch 15 on the outside of the case.

In order that the lights may be readily renewed, doors 16, giving access to the interior of the case, are hingedly secured at the rear side of the case and secured in closed position by locks 17 While I have shown deep glass dishes for receiving the fruit or other article to be displayed it will be understood that flat glass plates covering the openings might be used without departing from the spirit of the invention, the main feature of the invention being the construction which permits the light from the interior of the case to flow through only that part of the shelf carrying the glass or other translucid plates upon which the article to be displayed rests thus lighting up the articles against the dark background of the opaque shelf 9 and thereby eectively lighting up the articles and calling attention to them.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A display case comprising an open ended case having a top glass cover hingedly connected thereto, an opaque shelf disposed within said case and provided with openings, translucid article supports within the case and covering said openings and a source of light within the case below the shelf for sending rays of light through said receptacles only and thereby displaying the articles therein.

2. A display case comprising an open ended case having a top glass cover hingedly connected thereto, an opaque shelf disposed within said case and provided with light openings, glass dishes fitting into said openings and a plurality of electric lights disposed within the case below said shelf for supplying light to illuminate said dishes from below and thus display the articles therein.

3. A display case comprising an open top case having an opaque shelf therein provided with openings, translucid article supports covering said openings, a glass cover hingedly connected to the top of the case, a plurality of electric lights in the case below the shelf, and doors hingedly connected to one of the sides of the casing for gaining access to said lights.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

WILLIBALD HOFFMANN.

Copies o: this patent may be obtained for nve cents each, by addressing the onxrnissioner of Intenta, Wallington, D. S. 

